Store furniture



April 1, 1941. U 2.237.080

STORE FURNITURE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 2 sheets Sheet 1 April 1, 1941. MUSE2,237.08!)

STORE FURNITURE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventor flandwaeM A iiorneys Patented Apr. 1, 1941 sromz FURNITURE Paschal Muse, Perry,Ga., assignor of one-half to C. D. Tounsley, Perry, Ga.

Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,249

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to store furniture and more particularlyto a counter for use in stores, particularly in those types of storescommonly known as self-service stores. v

An object of the present; invention is to provide a counter so equippedas to facilitate the checking up of the purchases made, the facilitatingof making change for the customer, and for the bagging or wrapping ofthe purchased articles; and the invention, together with its objects andadvantages will be best understood from a study of the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a counter embodying the features ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on theline 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that inaccordance with the present invention there is provided a main counterindicated generally by the reference numeral 5.

The counter 5 may be constructed in any suitable manner, but in thepresent instance is shown as being constructed of a suitable framestructure having panels secured thereto to present a counter of finishedand pleasing appearance.

In the present instance the main counter 5 is characterized by beingconstructed to present at one end thereof a platform 6 on to which areunloaded from a basket or the like the selected articles purchased andfrom which platform such articles, by an attendant, are transferred toan endless conveyor I mounted on and extending longitudinally of thecounter 5 intermediate the ends of the counter.

The conveyor 1 may be of any suitable construction, and in the presentinstance is shown as consisting of an endless web trained over rollers 8suitably mounted in the frame structure of the counter; one of the saidrollers being adjustable for adjusting the tension on the web, and tothis end is provided a threaded lug 9 that is accommodated in' asuitable guide In. Swivelly connected with one end of the guide i0 is anadjusting screw II that has threaded connection with the lug 9 so thatby turning the screw H in either of two directions, the said one roller8 may be adjusted relative to the other roller, for the purpose abovestated.

For supporting the top run of the conveyor 1,

the counter is suitably equipped with a backboard or platen 52.

Also to protect the web of the conveyor and at the same time to serve toretain articles thereon the counter 5 at the top thereof is providedwith a beading ii! that extends along two longitudinal sides of thecounter and across the platform-equipped end of the counter as shown.

It is understood that the conveyor 1 may be operated by hand, or, and asshown, be driven from an electric motor I4; drive from the motor Itbeing transmitted to one of the rollers 8, preferably the relativelystationary roller, through a series of belt and pulley drive connectionsbest shown in Figures 2 and 3 and indicated generally by the referencenumeral l5.

The motor I4 and belt and pulley drive connections I5 are hidden fromview, a suitable compartment I6 being provided therefor as shown.

At the end thereof remote from the platform 6 the counter 5 isconstructed to present what may be termed a bagging compartment or wellll, access to which may be had through an opening I8 in the rear of thecounter, and an opening l9 at the top of the counter. Obviously the bagor other receptacle for the goods may be placed within the compartmenti1 and as the goods on the conveyor 1 approach the compartment H, suchgoods may be readily removed from the conveyor and placed in such bag oranalogous receptacle.

Preferably, in actual use, a second attendant will be employed at thecompartment end ll of the counter for packaging or bagging the selectedgoods of the purchaser.

Spaced from and paralleling the rear side of the counter 5 is alongitudinally extending panel 20 that is preferably of the same heightas the counter 5 and intermediate the ends thereof the panel 20 isconnected with the main counter 5 through the medium of a relativelyshort counter-section 2| upon which may be placed the cash register, anda third attendant may be employed for attending to the computation ofthe sales and the collecting of the purchase price as well as the makingof change for the customer.

As will be observed, the counter 5 is substantially hollow, and inaddition to the compartment I6 is equipped with shelves 22, 23 arrangedin suitably provided compartments 24 and 25 at the respective oppositeends of the counter for the storage of bags and other accessories.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a counter embodying thefeatures of the present invention will be found especially useful insuch stores known generally as self-service" stores.

a In using the counter the purchaser approaches As the articles move onthe conveyor 1 towards the bagging end ll of the counter, the attendantnear the counter 2| and taking charge of the cash register may readilycompute the cost of the purchases, and having so done make propercollection from the customer.

-Following the above, a third attendant at the end ll of the counter 5will place the articles on the conveyor into a bag or other receptaclefor the convenience of the purchaser. Thus the matter of completing asale will be greatly facilitated.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility,manner of use, and advantages of a counter embodying the features of thepresent invention will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. As a new article of furniture, a store coun ter equipped at one endthereof and at a lower level with an article receiving platform and atan opposite end thereof with means for facilitating the bagging andwrapping of commodities, and an endless conveyor mounted on the counter'and extending longitudinally thereof intermeditioned counter and saidpanel intermediate the respective opposite 7 ends of said first-namedcounter and said panel for supporting a cash register, said countersection forming a station substantially midway of the ends of thecounter whereby a cash register attendant may compute the cost ofcommodities passing on the conveyor.

2. A store counter having at one end thereof a platform disposed belowthe top surface of the counter for the reception of commodities, saidcounter being provided at the opposite end thereof with a well open atthe top and one side thereof for use in facilitating the bagging andwrapping of such commodities, and an endless conveyor formingsubstantially the top surface of the counter and extending from one endto the other end thereof to facilitates the transfer of commodities fromthe platform end of the counter to the well-equipped end thereof, thetop of said well being flush with the top of said conveyor.

PASCHALMUSE.

